Tilting chair



June 8, 1943-` w. F. Hl-:RoLD 2,321,385

nume CHAIRS l A Filed June- 16, 1941 :s sheets-sheet 1 June 8, 1943. Y `w. F. H'EROLD 2,321,385

TILTING CHAIRS Filed June 16, 1941 3 snags-sheet s atie: sw/IIIA/ Patented June 8, 1943 ilNi'EY TKL'EING CHAR Walter Herold, Easton, Conn., assigner to The Silkes Company, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 16, 1941, Serial No. 398,178

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tilting chairs and more especially to oiice chairs of the type known as posture chairs.

More particularly my invention relates to chairs of the kind shown in the Sengpiel Patent No. 1,909,018, of May 16, 1933, in which the chair seat has a xed supporting pivot located at or near the front edge of the seat and in which, when a person leans back in the chair, the rear part of the seat is lowered against the action of a spring or other resilient member, the rear por tion of the seat being connected to a chair back member with which the seat swings concurrently.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified and improved chair iron for a chair of this kind. Y

Another object which I have in view is to provide improved means whereby the rear portion of the chair seat is resiliently supported, Vand improved means for connecting the rear portion of the chair seat to the frame or support located at the top of the screw post.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional viewY of an oice chair embodying my improvements, showing the parts as they appear when the chair is unoccupied;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with certain parts omitted, showing a tilted position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing certain parts illustrated in Fig. 3, the chair being in the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4A is a section on line A--A of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are somewhat diagrammatic views, Fig. 5 showing the seat without load and Fig. 6 showing the back and seat tilted.

In the drawings, I have shown a chair of the general type disclosed in the Sengpiel Patent No. 1,909,018, having a supporting pedestal or base I0, a screw post or spindle II, a chairiron generally indicated at I2, a chair seat I3, and a chair back I4 of the so-called posture type. As disclosed in the patent referred to, the seatI3 has a pivot I3?. beneath and closely adjacent the front edge of the seat, and the rear part of the seat drops down when the seat is occupied and the chair back I4 is moved backward. The construction of the chair iron, however; is substantially different from that shown in the patent referred to, as will be apparent from the following description.

lIn the new construction, the chair ironr I2 comprises a frame member I5 rigid with the upper end of the screw'post II and having side members I6 which are parts of a yoke that can be cast integrally with the frame. To the upper side portions of the yoke are applied, as by rivets I'I, strap members I8 having forwardly projecting portionsl with which the pivotal connection I3a previously mentioned is associated. This pivotal connection IS2- preferably comprises a rod 20 connected at its ends, as by shouldered and riveted end portions 2|, with the forward extremities 22 of parts I9, and with fixed lugs 23 projecting down from thevseat I3 adjacent the forward edge thereof. There is thus provided at the forward extremities of the arm portions I9, which are a part of the frame, pivot means on which the seat I3 can swing up and down.

Within the yoke-like main portion of the frame is provided a leaf member or abutment 24 provided at the front with a spring seat 25 adapted to receive the rear end of a resilient member such as a coil spring 26, this spring being located around a tension rod 21. The forward end of the tension rod 21 is threaded, as indicated at 28, and this threaded portion is engaged by a tension-adjusting nut 29, andbetween the nut 29 and the forward end of the spring, a metal cup 33 is interposed.

The leaf or abutment 24 previously mentioned is preferably located slightly forwardly of the screw post, and preferably has a slight upward and forward inclination, and this part is provided with a central clearance opening 3| for the tension rod so that the rear end portion of the tension rod can be continued upwardly and rearwardly to engage the upper portion of a swinging link member 32. The point of engagement between the tension rod and the link member 32 is indicated generally at 33 in Fig.` 1. The link member 32 is pivoted to swing up and down, and for this purpose it has pivotal connection with the frame member I5, as generally indicated at 34, this pivotal connection being at the front end of the link member.

Link member32 is preferably constructed of sheet metal, the same being of inverted U shape in cross section, as appears in 4A., Thus there is created a lateral link member having side walls 35 and a top wall 36. The pivotal connection 34 above mentioned is provided at the forward lower ends of the side walls 35, in which location a pivot rod 31 ismounted inlugs 38 on the frame, the ends of said pivot rod extending through holes in the walls 35 and being riveted over against said walls as shown at 39.

The connection of the rear end of the tension rod to the link 32 at point 33, as previously mentioned, may be provided by striking up out of the upper wall 36 of the link member a lug 46 which projects upwardly from wall 36 and is provided with a slot 4| (extending into the body of wall 36), with which slot the rear end portion of the tension rod is engaged, said rear end being provided with a crosshead 42. The crosshead 42 is provided with a forward beveled edge portion 43 adapted to engage in the angle between lug 40 and wall 36 in suoli a manner that the tension rod can swing in a vertical plane t0 a certain extent.

At its upper rear portion, the link member 32 is provided with upwardly extending lug portions 44 formed as parts of the walls 35, and be tween these lug portions extends a, pivot rod 45. The pivot rod 45 serves to connect to the rear part of the link member 32 a short generally upright link member 46. This short link member 46 is connected to the seat t3 adjacent the rear edge of the seat by means including a pivot rod 41. The pivot rod 47 extends between depending lugs 48 fastened as by screws or the like to the lower surface of the chair seat. Between these lugs, lugs 49 carried at and by the respective sides of the short link 46 surround the rod 4l.

The pivot rod 45 at the lower end of link 46 not only serves to pivot the link member 32 but also to pivot an angular adjusting lmember 56 for the chair back i4. This angular adjusting member 56 and the link member 32 are adapted to be adjusted relatively tol each other with the pivot rod 45 acting as the pivot. The member 56 is preferably constructed of sheet metal in substantially U form, and has side walls 5| and a rear or back wall 52. The side walls 5| are arranged outside of the side walls of .the link member 32, in overlapping relation,.and the ends of the pivot rod, which are engaged by lugs at the respective sides of the short link member 46, are continued through the walls 35 and through the walls 5| and are provided at the respective extremities with headed retaining means.

For holding the angular adjusting member 56 in the adjusted position, a .so-called scissors slot adjustment is provided, including arcuate slots 55 in the link memberf32 and straight slots 56 in member 56. The slots 55 and 56 are engaged by a rod 57 having a tightening head 58.

Vertically adjustable on adjusting member 5i) is a, U shaped height-adjusting membei` 59 for the chair backsaid member carrying a crossbar 66 to which is connected the uprights 6| of the chair back. For clamping the member 59 in the adjusted position, arod 62 extends between the side members of member 5i), and this rod is engaged by portions of member 59 having slots 63,

a head 64 being provided on rod 62 for clamping purposes.

A small stop 66 may be provided on the shortI link 46 to cooperate 'with each of the lugs 4'8. For the purpose of limiting swinging movement of link member 32 in opposite directions, suitable stops may be provided. In the present case, the innermost rivets previously referred to are continued past the yoke arms to provide round projecting heads 66 which are adjacent the side walls 35 of the link member. walls 35 is provided with a bent-up stop 61 below Each of these side and to the rear of the corresponding head 66, and with a bent-up stop 68 located forwardly of the corresponding head 66.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown the previously described chair construction in a diagrammatic manner for the purpose of showing more clearly the action of the principal chair parts. In these views the principal parts have been reduced to simpler forms, this being especially true with reference to the frame, the rearwardly extending link member, the chair back, and the spring and its tension rod. In these views, the frame is indicated at I5, the rearwardly extending link member at 32a, the chair back at |42, and the connection between I4EL and 32a at |41. The spring is shown at 26a, the tension rod at 21a, and the connection between the rear end of the tension rod and the upper portion of the link 32a, at 33a. Now it will be seen from these views that in the normal unoccupied position, the chair seat |3 is substantially horizontal, the link 62a also being substantially horizontal, and the chair back |4a being substantially vertical. When a person sits down in the chair and leans back, the result is that the back swings rearwardly and rthe chair seat is swung relatively to pivot |3a, the rear part of the seat moving downwardly to a position such as shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen that through the back |45, link 32EL is swung downwardly with member 34 acting as a pivot, and it will be seen further that the relative positions of the seat and chair back have been changed, in that the chair back is no longer substantially at right angles to the seat but has been tilted backwardly therefrom toa small angle, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen that the action described is resisted by the spring 26, and that this resistance is overcome by the shift of the center of weight of the occupant of .the chair, the tension rod 2'|a being pulled rearwardly, its rear end moving in an arc of which pivot 34 is the center. It will be evident that when the chair is vacated the spring 26 will restore the parts to the initial positions.

It is important to note that as the rear po-rtion of the link member 32a swings through a relatively short radius while the rear portion of the seat swings on a, relatively long radius, ccmpensation is necessary. This is effectively provided by vthe short connecting link 46, which is swung from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6, assuming a different inclination.

It will be evident that the action of the structure shown in Figs. l to 4A will be similar to that of the diagrammatic structure just described.

It will be noted that in the position of Figs. 1 and 4 the stops 67 will engage the under parts of the stop members 66, thus limiting the upward movement of the link member 32. As the rear portion of the chair seat is depressed to the desired maximum, Vthe stops 68 act -against the upper forward parts of the stops 66.

It will be observed that the mounting for the spring and tension rod is very simple and compact, it merely being necessary to provide the Yframe with an abutment or leaf against which the rear end of the spring .acts and through which the tension rod .extends with clearance, the upper rear end of the tension rod being connectedin a simple manner tothe link 32. In installing, the tension rod can be readily threaded through lug 40 and abutment 24 from the rear. There are relatively few parts and these are quite accessible for purposes of inspection, repair or replacement,

The short link 46 provides an eiectivemeans for interconnecting and controlling the lateral link and the chair seat.

While I have shown in Figs. 1 to 4A a preferred embodiment of the chair structure, it is to be understood that various changes can be made in the details without departure from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a chair, the combination of a base, a post extending upwardly from the base, a frame carried by the upper end of the post, a chair seat, a. rigid projecting part on said frame to which the front edge portion of said chair seat is pivoted, interpivoted swinging means connecting the rear portion of said seat with said frame including a forwardly directed link pivoted at its forward end to said frame, a chair back carried by said link, and resilient chair-seat-supporting means including a tension rod extending through a portion of said frame and connected to said link.

2. In a tilting chair, a frame adapted to be supported on a chair base and having a forwardly projecting part, a chair seat having its forward edge portion pivotally supported on said projecting part, a link depending from the rear portion of the chair seat, a lateral link having a forward end pivoted on said frame and a rear end pivoted to the lower end of said rst link, resilient means for supporting the rear portion of the seat, said resilient means including a member pivotally connected to said lateral link, and a chair back carried by said lateral link.

3. In a tilting chair, a frame adapted to be supported on a chair base and having a forwardly projecting part, a chair seat having a depending member adjacent the front edge by which it is pivotally supported on said forwardly projecting part, a short link depending from the seat adjacent the rear edge thereof, a lateral link pivotally connected at its rear portion to said rst link and having a forward portion pivoted on said frame, a chair back operably supported from said second link so as to be carried thereby, and means for resiliently supporting and tensioning the articulated structure.

4. In a tilting chair, a frame adapted to be supported on a chair base and having a forwardly projecting part, a chair seat having a depending member adjacent the front edge bywhich it is pivotally supported on said forwardly projecting part, a short link depending from the seat adjacent the rear edge thereof, a lateral link pivotally connected at its rear portion to said first link and. having a forward portion pivoted on said frame, a chair back operably supported from said second link so as to be carried thereby, and means for resiliently supporting and tensioning the articulated structure, said second link being of inverted U shape in cross section, and said resilient supporting and tensioning means being connected to said link at the upper part thereof.

WALTER F. HEROLD. 

